Our History

In 1793, Kentucky would consist of 9 counties and the state legislature would meet in a frame house in the new capital city of Frankfort.

Dr. James Spencer - in his History of Kentucky Baptists - shares a record of another meeting that would also be held during that year:

"This was the fourth Association organized in Kentucky, and the first that was constituted under the style of "United Baptists." It was formed of four churches, which broke off from South Kentucky Association in consequence of that fraternity's refusing to accept terms of union, proffered by Elkhorn Association, in 1793. The names of the churches are not given in the minutes of the organization, but subsequent records indicate that they were Head of Boones Creek, Forks of Dix River, Jessamine and Hickmans Creek. With these four churches, five ministers also seceded from South Kentucky Association. Their names were James Smith, Thomas Ammen, Andrew Tribble, Robert Clark and Thomas Shelton. Unity church, of which Andrew Tribble was a member and the pastor, withdrew from South Kentucky Association, and joined the new fraternity the following year.

 The four churches spoken of above, met, by their messengers, at Jessamine Meetinghouse, Nov. 23, 1793.

 "On motion, agreed to form an association of the four churches, which lately entered into union with the Regular brethren; and to make the terms of union their constitution."

Although Dr. Spencer does not make mention of it, James Smith would become the first Moderator of the new association and Lipscomb Norvelle would serve as the first clerk. The Association, now known as Tates Creek Association of Baptists, would exist without a name or confession of faith for several years.

Throughout the 220 year history of the association, there has been a grand procession of individuals who made contributions to the growth of Baptist work within Kentucky as well as the Southern Baptist Convention.

The association would grow from four churches in 1793 to 23 churches by 1813 with an aggregate membership of 1,579.

Today the association reports 43 churches in the fellowship of churches that comprise it’s body.

For a more detailed history of the association, churches and associational leaders, you may order a copy of the Associational History from the associational office.

There is a PDF file on the "TCBA Historial Table" under the MORE tab.  (Then, click on PDF Files and click on the title).

 

 TCBA Historian

D. L. Brewer is currently Senior Pastor of Unity Baptist Church. He is a lifelong resident of Kentucky completing his education at Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Kentucky, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an earned Doctorate from Luther Rice Seminary. He has served as a Pastor, Director of Missions, and is the author of numerous articles, Bible Commentary for Lifeway lesson quarterlies, and several books, including an Associational History of Tates Creek Association. He has served the association as Pastoral Ministries Director, Seminary Extension Director, Moderator and currently as Chairman of the Associational History Committee. He is a native of Owsley County, Kentucky and is married to the former Lucille Sebastian, also of that county and a retired teacher.